Lapped the Nurburgring this weekend!
11-15-2010, 11:16 AM
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'09 C300 Sport 4Matic Arctic White
Lapped the Nurburgring this weekend!
Went on a weekend getaway to Stuttgart-Freiburg-Baden Baden-Nurburgring and I thought it'd be nice to share the experience.
First off, the car ... I rented a 2011 C180 CGI BlueEfficiency w/ a 5sp auto from the airport. At first they gave me an A180 2-door because nothing else was available. I swapped it the following morning for the C as soon as one became available.
What a fantastic engine! This new 1.8L turbocharged 4-pot feels a heck of a lot faster than my V6 C300 4-Matic back home. There is a bit of turbo lag down low but you then suddenly get a rush of power in a very usable range. The car surged effortlessly to 180kph on the autobahn; I didn't dare go any faster and also there was always traffic ahead. I prefer the sound and smoothness of my V6 but performance-wise, this is a great little engine.
I spent the first 1.5 days in Stuttgart visiting the Porsche Museum and the MB Museum. I went on the MB factory tour where we saw the Unterturkheim campus. MB only builds engines at this plant and there is no final-assembly. The tour was led by a retired senior manager who was extremely knowledgeable. As someone with an operations background, I certainly appreciated the fact that he was able to address technical questions. Everyone on the tour gets an ear-piece so you can hear the tour guide while you are walking through the loud factory. This was a nice touch ... the kind of detail you expect from MB.
I then headed west through the Black Forest towards Freiburg and then north to Baden-Baden. The drive north through the Black Forest to Baden-Baden on route 500 is one of the best roads I have ever driven. There's a dramatic change in elevation as you climb and descend through the mountains and valleys. The road twists and turns with sharp hairpins and switch-backs. Near Baden-Baden, a silver SLS AMG pulled up behind me on the mountain road and we had some fun. I took the lead for a mile or so, then he took the lead...only to be slowed down by an A-class going what felt like 30mph. The C kept up with the SLS in the really tight stuff.. partially because there was no room for the SLS to exploit that beast of an engine. Also because the SLS driver probably didn't want to push his car too hard on a Sunday drive down a mountain road. It was great fun though.
I drove 3hrs north-west early Sunday morning to the Nurburgring. I followed the signs for Nurburgring which took me to the F1 track and visitors center. I circled around a bit before noticing the sign for Nordschliefe.
The parking lot staging area at the Nordschliefe had 25-30 cars there. There were various 911s, a few GTRs, a handful of M3s, and a spattering of other cars like regular 3-series', golfs, subarus, renault hatches etc. Seeing these sporty and track-ready cars made me a little nervous to take the C onto the ring. I bought a card for 1 lap from the counter and watched the starting-gate for a bit before finding the courage to hop in the C and drive up to the start myself. There is a card-reader at the start and you swipe your ticket card which lifts the gate.
The starting point is near the end of the long back straight away. I've become familiar with the 'Ring from countless hours on the Playstation/PSP but the game does not prepare you for the dramatic elevation changes. Going at speed around the track, you really feel yourself getting tossed in all directions. The blind corners and crests are pretty frightening as well.
I followed a Ford Escort around for the first lap and got comfortable with the C. I realized that driving the 'ring as a beginner with no racing experience, has nothing to do with the car ... it is 100% about the driver and whether you have the nerve to push the car to the limit. The turbocharged C was maybe even too much car for me. I wasn't getting anywhere near the limits of grip. I was pretty cautious as I knew I had no racing insurance on the rental. If I had a clear view of the next 2-3 turns, I would blast through that section. If it was a blind turn, I'd get on the brakes early to be safe and then exit fast. The front brakes began to fade at the end of the first lap as I felt the front end wiggle under braking.
Running the 'ring was such a high I felt like I was on drugs. I roughly timed my first lap at 13m13s which I thought was respectable. I went for seconds after a short break and for most of the lap, had no cars in front of me. I was a bit more aggressive this time around and was enjoying myself so much that I didn't want it to end. My laptime from the same start-stop point came down too ... 12m29s. Not bad right for a n00b?
I will try to post some pictures if y'all are interested. If anyone is considering doing the trip ... DO IT, you will not regret it! You will just need to convince your SO that this is very much a motoring-centric vacation!
Sorry for the long rant but I just had so much fun I had to share it with all of you MB enthusiasts!
Cheers!
First off, the car ... I rented a 2011 C180 CGI BlueEfficiency w/ a 5sp auto from the airport. At first they gave me an A180 2-door because nothing else was available. I swapped it the following morning for the C as soon as one became available.
What a fantastic engine! This new 1.8L turbocharged 4-pot feels a heck of a lot faster than my V6 C300 4-Matic back home. There is a bit of turbo lag down low but you then suddenly get a rush of power in a very usable range. The car surged effortlessly to 180kph on the autobahn; I didn't dare go any faster and also there was always traffic ahead. I prefer the sound and smoothness of my V6 but performance-wise, this is a great little engine.
I spent the first 1.5 days in Stuttgart visiting the Porsche Museum and the MB Museum. I went on the MB factory tour where we saw the Unterturkheim campus. MB only builds engines at this plant and there is no final-assembly. The tour was led by a retired senior manager who was extremely knowledgeable. As someone with an operations background, I certainly appreciated the fact that he was able to address technical questions. Everyone on the tour gets an ear-piece so you can hear the tour guide while you are walking through the loud factory. This was a nice touch ... the kind of detail you expect from MB.
I then headed west through the Black Forest towards Freiburg and then north to Baden-Baden. The drive north through the Black Forest to Baden-Baden on route 500 is one of the best roads I have ever driven. There's a dramatic change in elevation as you climb and descend through the mountains and valleys. The road twists and turns with sharp hairpins and switch-backs. Near Baden-Baden, a silver SLS AMG pulled up behind me on the mountain road and we had some fun. I took the lead for a mile or so, then he took the lead...only to be slowed down by an A-class going what felt like 30mph. The C kept up with the SLS in the really tight stuff.. partially because there was no room for the SLS to exploit that beast of an engine. Also because the SLS driver probably didn't want to push his car too hard on a Sunday drive down a mountain road. It was great fun though.
I drove 3hrs north-west early Sunday morning to the Nurburgring. I followed the signs for Nurburgring which took me to the F1 track and visitors center. I circled around a bit before noticing the sign for Nordschliefe.
The parking lot staging area at the Nordschliefe had 25-30 cars there. There were various 911s, a few GTRs, a handful of M3s, and a spattering of other cars like regular 3-series', golfs, subarus, renault hatches etc. Seeing these sporty and track-ready cars made me a little nervous to take the C onto the ring. I bought a card for 1 lap from the counter and watched the starting-gate for a bit before finding the courage to hop in the C and drive up to the start myself. There is a card-reader at the start and you swipe your ticket card which lifts the gate.
The starting point is near the end of the long back straight away. I've become familiar with the 'Ring from countless hours on the Playstation/PSP but the game does not prepare you for the dramatic elevation changes. Going at speed around the track, you really feel yourself getting tossed in all directions. The blind corners and crests are pretty frightening as well.
I followed a Ford Escort around for the first lap and got comfortable with the C. I realized that driving the 'ring as a beginner with no racing experience, has nothing to do with the car ... it is 100% about the driver and whether you have the nerve to push the car to the limit. The turbocharged C was maybe even too much car for me. I wasn't getting anywhere near the limits of grip. I was pretty cautious as I knew I had no racing insurance on the rental. If I had a clear view of the next 2-3 turns, I would blast through that section. If it was a blind turn, I'd get on the brakes early to be safe and then exit fast. The front brakes began to fade at the end of the first lap as I felt the front end wiggle under braking.
Running the 'ring was such a high I felt like I was on drugs. I roughly timed my first lap at 13m13s which I thought was respectable. I went for seconds after a short break and for most of the lap, had no cars in front of me. I was a bit more aggressive this time around and was enjoying myself so much that I didn't want it to end. My laptime from the same start-stop point came down too ... 12m29s. Not bad right for a n00b?
I will try to post some pictures if y'all are interested. If anyone is considering doing the trip ... DO IT, you will not regret it! You will just need to convince your SO that this is very much a motoring-centric vacation!
Sorry for the long rant but I just had so much fun I had to share it with all of you MB enthusiasts!
Cheers!
11-15-2010, 11:41 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Wow!!! Great post!!! After having driven past the two Nurburgring "ausfhart" many times (one between Trier and Koblenz on Rt. 1, the second on the Autobahn between Koblenz and Cologne), my son and I were always tempted just to detour off and give it a go. Unfortunately, the last time we were in a rented Megane, not exactly the preferred vehicle when it takes concentrated effort just to start it. Next time will be in 2012 (for DRUPA in Dusseldorf), will try to rent something more sporty. However in Paris, decent cars are hard to rent. Maybe Frankfurt?
11-15-2010, 12:05 PM
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'09 C300 Sport 4Matic Arctic White
Bill, you have to do it next time! The best rental fleet seems to be this company called Sixt (www.sixt.de).
Their fleet appears to be comprised of only Audi, BMW, Benz, Mini, and Opels which pretty much guarantees a decent car as long as you don't get a MB A/B-class!
Their rates seem comparable with Thrifty but do not include unlimited mileage. The limit is 900km and you pay for every km you go over (0.20 eur/km or something).
I would have gone over the mileage limit on this trip from Stuttgart but if I were going to the 'Ring from Frankfurt, I would have preferred to rent from Sixt.
Their fleet appears to be comprised of only Audi, BMW, Benz, Mini, and Opels which pretty much guarantees a decent car as long as you don't get a MB A/B-class!
Their rates seem comparable with Thrifty but do not include unlimited mileage. The limit is 900km and you pay for every km you go over (0.20 eur/km or something).
I would have gone over the mileage limit on this trip from Stuttgart but if I were going to the 'Ring from Frankfurt, I would have preferred to rent from Sixt.
11-15-2010, 12:35 PM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
@fattysnax: Thanks for the tip, I do know about Sixt. Having had some experience a lifetime ago in SCCA and Watkins Glen, its now on my list of "Thing to do before I die". Maybe I can schedule to conduct another Philharmonic Orchestra benefit concert in Bucharest, as DRUPA is from May 3-16, 2012. Imagine driving the whole way, its only 900 miles from Frankfurt to Romania, and you get to do Bavaria and Austria on the way (a days drive, haha, as opposed from Acapulco to San Diego, 1500 miles and NOT a days drive).
11-15-2010, 01:10 PM
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'09 C300 Sport 4Matic Arctic White
The drive from Frankfurt to Bucharest should be a heavenly drive. Didn't Top Gear do a feature on a Romanian stretch of road they called the best road in the world? Surely you would have make a detour and drive that!
11-15-2010, 01:30 PM
#6
The rental car companies around the track have much better track cars, and will include an instructor lesson and some instructor laps as well. Congrats on your trip around the ring! I know it was completely addictive for me and I had to go back again and again 
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
11-15-2010, 01:32 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Interesting you should ask, the Director of the "Sinfonia Bucurestilor", Florin Totán, who arranges my concerts, has his summer home near there (also a HUGE MB fanatic, by the way). Last time he invited me to spend more days, alas I was scheduled to do a tour in Italy for 20 days - Milan, Parma, Bologna, Firenze, Pisa, Sienna, Orvieto, Perugia, Gubbio, San Marino, Rimini, Ravenna, Ferrara, Padua, Venice, Verona, and Bergamo. Driving of course with my daughters, in a Smart ForFour.
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11-15-2010, 02:37 PM
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The rental car companies around the track have much better track cars, and will include an instructor lesson and some instructor laps as well. Congrats on your trip around the ring! I know it was completely addictive for me and I had to go back again and again
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
In hindsight, I probably should have read the fine print on the rental agreement from Thrifty
11-15-2010, 02:41 PM
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'09 C300 Sport 4Matic Arctic White
Interesting you should ask, the Director of the "Sinfonia Bucurestilor", Florin Totán, who arranges my concerts, has his summer home near there (also a HUGE MB fanatic, by the way). Last time he invited me to spend more days, alas I was scheduled to do a tour in Italy for 20 days - Milan, Parma, Bologna, Firenze, Pisa, Sienna, Orvieto, Perugia, Gubbio, San Marino, Rimini, Ravenna, Ferrara, Padua, Venice, Verona, and Bergamo. Driving of course with my daughters, in a Smart ForFour.
That sounds like a helluva road trip. Any particular stretches of road that were just incredible?
11-15-2010, 03:18 PM
#10
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Yes, and I strongly recommend that you don't exceed the speed limit (70 kph) on the stretch of highway between downtown Bucharest and the airport! Italy has a highly efficient Autostrada system if you LEAVE major cities in the morning (all the traffic fights to come in) and ENTER cities in the late afternoon (everyone battling to leave again). That said, the time between the morning and evening leave most of the country roads wide open to some incredible scenery and aggressive mountain road driving. Two come to mind:
1.- The drive between Firenze and Pisa, do NOT take the A11 toll road, instead leave Florence on the SP1, then in Pistoia catch the SS-SR435 to Lucca. The most scenic mountain with the twistiest roads, almost no traffic. From Lucca take the A11 into Pisa. One of the best 2 hours of my, and my daughter's, lives.
2.- The road from Florence to Siena on the SS-SR2 is picturesque. The good stuff happens south of Siena on the SR2, past the Lago de Bolsena, then left up the mountains on the SR71 to Orvieto. From there there is another great drive on the SR317 to Perugia, then to Assisi.
2b.- Once in Perugia, you might as well just keep going to the Adriatic Sea up the SS-SR 298 to Gubbio, beyond that to the SP360 and on to Senigallia. thats where the fun ends, the Autostrada takes you up to Rimini and San Marino.
Recommendations - in that neck of the woods, plan the region between Milan and Bologna to NOT fall on a weekend, especially a Sunday: the Ferrari factory in Maranello is closed, and Parma on Sunday, EVERYTHING, even the churches, are closed. The parking meters even spit back the Euros you insert into them, as they are programmed to not accept any coins on Sundays.
1.- The drive between Firenze and Pisa, do NOT take the A11 toll road, instead leave Florence on the SP1, then in Pistoia catch the SS-SR435 to Lucca. The most scenic mountain with the twistiest roads, almost no traffic. From Lucca take the A11 into Pisa. One of the best 2 hours of my, and my daughter's, lives.
2.- The road from Florence to Siena on the SS-SR2 is picturesque. The good stuff happens south of Siena on the SR2, past the Lago de Bolsena, then left up the mountains on the SR71 to Orvieto. From there there is another great drive on the SR317 to Perugia, then to Assisi.
2b.- Once in Perugia, you might as well just keep going to the Adriatic Sea up the SS-SR 298 to Gubbio, beyond that to the SP360 and on to Senigallia. thats where the fun ends, the Autostrada takes you up to Rimini and San Marino.
Recommendations - in that neck of the woods, plan the region between Milan and Bologna to NOT fall on a weekend, especially a Sunday: the Ferrari factory in Maranello is closed, and Parma on Sunday, EVERYTHING, even the churches, are closed. The parking meters even spit back the Euros you insert into them, as they are programmed to not accept any coins on Sundays.
11-15-2010, 06:58 PM
#11
I think if I am going to plan a special 'Ring vacation, I would definitely rent from one of the 'ring rental companies and get some proper racing instruction. Did you rent from one of these places? How was the experience?
In hindsight, I probably should have read the fine print on the rental agreement from Thrifty
In hindsight, I probably should have read the fine print on the rental agreement from Thrifty
11-15-2010, 07:03 PM
#12
Yes, and I strongly recommend that you don't exceed the speed limit (70 kph) on the stretch of highway between downtown Bucharest and the airport! Italy has a highly efficient Autostrada system if you LEAVE major cities in the morning (all the traffic fights to come in) and ENTER cities in the late afternoon (everyone battling to leave again). That said, the time between the morning and evening leave most of the country roads wide open to some incredible scenery and aggressive mountain road driving. Two come to mind:
1.- The drive between Firenze and Pisa, do NOT take the A11 toll road, instead leave Florence on the SP1, then in Pistoia catch the SS-SR435 to Lucca. The most scenic mountain with the twistiest roads, almost no traffic. From Lucca take the A11 into Pisa. One of the best 2 hours of my, and my daughter's, lives.
2.- The road from Florence to Siena on the SS-SR2 is picturesque. The good stuff happens south of Siena on the SR2, past the Lago de Bolsena, then left up the mountains on the SR71 to Orvieto. From there there is another great drive on the SR317 to Perugia, then to Assisi.
2b.- Once in Perugia, you might as well just keep going to the Adriatic Sea up the SS-SR 298 to Gubbio, beyond that to the SP360 and on to Senigallia. thats where the fun ends, the Autostrada takes you up to Rimini and San Marino.
Recommendations - in that neck of the woods, plan the region between Milan and Bologna to NOT fall on a weekend, especially a Sunday: the Ferrari factory in Maranello is closed, and Parma on Sunday, EVERYTHING, even the churches, are closed. The parking meters even spit back the Euros you insert into them, as they are programmed to not accept any coins on Sundays.
1.- The drive between Firenze and Pisa, do NOT take the A11 toll road, instead leave Florence on the SP1, then in Pistoia catch the SS-SR435 to Lucca. The most scenic mountain with the twistiest roads, almost no traffic. From Lucca take the A11 into Pisa. One of the best 2 hours of my, and my daughter's, lives.
2.- The road from Florence to Siena on the SS-SR2 is picturesque. The good stuff happens south of Siena on the SR2, past the Lago de Bolsena, then left up the mountains on the SR71 to Orvieto. From there there is another great drive on the SR317 to Perugia, then to Assisi.
2b.- Once in Perugia, you might as well just keep going to the Adriatic Sea up the SS-SR 298 to Gubbio, beyond that to the SP360 and on to Senigallia. thats where the fun ends, the Autostrada takes you up to Rimini and San Marino.
Recommendations - in that neck of the woods, plan the region between Milan and Bologna to NOT fall on a weekend, especially a Sunday: the Ferrari factory in Maranello is closed, and Parma on Sunday, EVERYTHING, even the churches, are closed. The parking meters even spit back the Euros you insert into them, as they are programmed to not accept any coins on Sundays.
11-15-2010, 10:19 PM
#15
MBWorld Fanatic!
A 3d run through Italy - Start in Milan, go north through Monza on the SS36, up along the Lago di Como (tunnels and cliffside over one of the worlds most beautiful lakes). At the Trivio Fuentes intersection, take SS38 east, through Sondrio at the base of the Alps (you can see St Moritz in Switzerland on a clear day overhead), to Madonna de Tirano, then north on Rt. 29 into Switzerland and on to St Moritz. Simply breathtaking. Try NOT to schedule this November through March, dirty, plowed snow and salted roads spoil the experience.
11-16-2010, 08:35 PM
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The rental car companies around the track have much better track cars, and will include an instructor lesson and some instructor laps as well. Congrats on your trip around the ring! I know it was completely addictive for me and I had to go back again and again
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
Check the fine print of your rental agreements, you don't need racing insurance to drive the ring as it's only considered a toll road, but some rental policies will have a coverage exclusion for the ring.
11-16-2010, 08:38 PM
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Went on a weekend getaway to Stuttgart-Freiburg-Baden Baden-Nurburgring and I thought it'd be nice to share the experience.
First off, the car ... I rented a 2011 C180 CGI BlueEfficiency w/ a 5sp auto from the airport. At first they gave me an A180 2-door because nothing else was available. I swapped it the following morning for the C as soon as one became available.
What a fantastic engine! This new 1.8L turbocharged 4-pot feels a heck of a lot faster than my V6 C300 4-Matic back home. There is a bit of turbo lag down low but you then suddenly get a rush of power in a very usable range. The car surged effortlessly to 180kph on the autobahn; I didn't dare go any faster and also there was always traffic ahead. I prefer the sound and smoothness of my V6 but performance-wise, this is a great little engine.
I spent the first 1.5 days in Stuttgart visiting the Porsche Museum and the MB Museum. I went on the MB factory tour where we saw the Unterturkheim campus. MB only builds engines at this plant and there is no final-assembly. The tour was led by a retired senior manager who was extremely knowledgeable. As someone with an operations background, I certainly appreciated the fact that he was able to address technical questions. Everyone on the tour gets an ear-piece so you can hear the tour guide while you are walking through the loud factory. This was a nice touch ... the kind of detail you expect from MB.
I then headed west through the Black Forest towards Freiburg and then north to Baden-Baden. The drive north through the Black Forest to Baden-Baden on route 500 is one of the best roads I have ever driven. There's a dramatic change in elevation as you climb and descend through the mountains and valleys. The road twists and turns with sharp hairpins and switch-backs. Near Baden-Baden, a silver SLS AMG pulled up behind me on the mountain road and we had some fun. I took the lead for a mile or so, then he took the lead...only to be slowed down by an A-class going what felt like 30mph. The C kept up with the SLS in the really tight stuff.. partially because there was no room for the SLS to exploit that beast of an engine. Also because the SLS driver probably didn't want to push his car too hard on a Sunday drive down a mountain road. It was great fun though.
I drove 3hrs north-west early Sunday morning to the Nurburgring. I followed the signs for Nurburgring which took me to the F1 track and visitors center. I circled around a bit before noticing the sign for Nordschliefe.
The parking lot staging area at the Nordschliefe had 25-30 cars there. There were various 911s, a few GTRs, a handful of M3s, and a spattering of other cars like regular 3-series', golfs, subarus, renault hatches etc. Seeing these sporty and track-ready cars made me a little nervous to take the C onto the ring. I bought a card for 1 lap from the counter and watched the starting-gate for a bit before finding the courage to hop in the C and drive up to the start myself. There is a card-reader at the start and you swipe your ticket card which lifts the gate.
The starting point is near the end of the long back straight away. I've become familiar with the 'Ring from countless hours on the Playstation/PSP but the game does not prepare you for the dramatic elevation changes. Going at speed around the track, you really feel yourself getting tossed in all directions. The blind corners and crests are pretty frightening as well.
I followed a Ford Escort around for the first lap and got comfortable with the C. I realized that driving the 'ring as a beginner with no racing experience, has nothing to do with the car ... it is 100% about the driver and whether you have the nerve to push the car to the limit. The turbocharged C was maybe even too much car for me. I wasn't getting anywhere near the limits of grip. I was pretty cautious as I knew I had no racing insurance on the rental. If I had a clear view of the next 2-3 turns, I would blast through that section. If it was a blind turn, I'd get on the brakes early to be safe and then exit fast. The front brakes began to fade at the end of the first lap as I felt the front end wiggle under braking.
Running the 'ring was such a high I felt like I was on drugs. I roughly timed my first lap at 13m13s which I thought was respectable. I went for seconds after a short break and for most of the lap, had no cars in front of me. I was a bit more aggressive this time around and was enjoying myself so much that I didn't want it to end. My laptime from the same start-stop point came down too ... 12m29s. Not bad right for a n00b?
I will try to post some pictures if y'all are interested. If anyone is considering doing the trip ... DO IT, you will not regret it! You will just need to convince your SO that this is very much a motoring-centric vacation!
Sorry for the long rant but I just had so much fun I had to share it with all of you MB enthusiasts!
Cheers!
First off, the car ... I rented a 2011 C180 CGI BlueEfficiency w/ a 5sp auto from the airport. At first they gave me an A180 2-door because nothing else was available. I swapped it the following morning for the C as soon as one became available.
What a fantastic engine! This new 1.8L turbocharged 4-pot feels a heck of a lot faster than my V6 C300 4-Matic back home. There is a bit of turbo lag down low but you then suddenly get a rush of power in a very usable range. The car surged effortlessly to 180kph on the autobahn; I didn't dare go any faster and also there was always traffic ahead. I prefer the sound and smoothness of my V6 but performance-wise, this is a great little engine.
I spent the first 1.5 days in Stuttgart visiting the Porsche Museum and the MB Museum. I went on the MB factory tour where we saw the Unterturkheim campus. MB only builds engines at this plant and there is no final-assembly. The tour was led by a retired senior manager who was extremely knowledgeable. As someone with an operations background, I certainly appreciated the fact that he was able to address technical questions. Everyone on the tour gets an ear-piece so you can hear the tour guide while you are walking through the loud factory. This was a nice touch ... the kind of detail you expect from MB.
I then headed west through the Black Forest towards Freiburg and then north to Baden-Baden. The drive north through the Black Forest to Baden-Baden on route 500 is one of the best roads I have ever driven. There's a dramatic change in elevation as you climb and descend through the mountains and valleys. The road twists and turns with sharp hairpins and switch-backs. Near Baden-Baden, a silver SLS AMG pulled up behind me on the mountain road and we had some fun. I took the lead for a mile or so, then he took the lead...only to be slowed down by an A-class going what felt like 30mph. The C kept up with the SLS in the really tight stuff.. partially because there was no room for the SLS to exploit that beast of an engine. Also because the SLS driver probably didn't want to push his car too hard on a Sunday drive down a mountain road. It was great fun though.
I drove 3hrs north-west early Sunday morning to the Nurburgring. I followed the signs for Nurburgring which took me to the F1 track and visitors center. I circled around a bit before noticing the sign for Nordschliefe.
The parking lot staging area at the Nordschliefe had 25-30 cars there. There were various 911s, a few GTRs, a handful of M3s, and a spattering of other cars like regular 3-series', golfs, subarus, renault hatches etc. Seeing these sporty and track-ready cars made me a little nervous to take the C onto the ring. I bought a card for 1 lap from the counter and watched the starting-gate for a bit before finding the courage to hop in the C and drive up to the start myself. There is a card-reader at the start and you swipe your ticket card which lifts the gate.
The starting point is near the end of the long back straight away. I've become familiar with the 'Ring from countless hours on the Playstation/PSP but the game does not prepare you for the dramatic elevation changes. Going at speed around the track, you really feel yourself getting tossed in all directions. The blind corners and crests are pretty frightening as well.
I followed a Ford Escort around for the first lap and got comfortable with the C. I realized that driving the 'ring as a beginner with no racing experience, has nothing to do with the car ... it is 100% about the driver and whether you have the nerve to push the car to the limit. The turbocharged C was maybe even too much car for me. I wasn't getting anywhere near the limits of grip. I was pretty cautious as I knew I had no racing insurance on the rental. If I had a clear view of the next 2-3 turns, I would blast through that section. If it was a blind turn, I'd get on the brakes early to be safe and then exit fast. The front brakes began to fade at the end of the first lap as I felt the front end wiggle under braking.
Running the 'ring was such a high I felt like I was on drugs. I roughly timed my first lap at 13m13s which I thought was respectable. I went for seconds after a short break and for most of the lap, had no cars in front of me. I was a bit more aggressive this time around and was enjoying myself so much that I didn't want it to end. My laptime from the same start-stop point came down too ... 12m29s. Not bad right for a n00b?
I will try to post some pictures if y'all are interested. If anyone is considering doing the trip ... DO IT, you will not regret it! You will just need to convince your SO that this is very much a motoring-centric vacation!
Sorry for the long rant but I just had so much fun I had to share it with all of you MB enthusiasts!
Cheers!
11-17-2010, 03:18 AM
#18
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'09 C300 Sport 4Matic Arctic White
im happy you experienced the grun holle! i lapped my gti about 8 times and now it will be time for the 350!. i love the cars you see in the parking area, you should try to come back during car freitag!. your jaw will literally drop and you will not believe some of the cars you see at the track.
Other than the GTRs and 911s, the most impressive car out there was probably a TVR Cerbera. An Audi A8 pulled into the parking lot as I was leaving, I bet that would have been impressive to see going around the ring. If you bring a car like that, you better know what you're doing.
11-17-2010, 09:05 PM
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2011 C 350/ 2006 MKV GTI
There were a few GTIs out there on the track last Sunday too, it's a popular car all-purpose sporty little hatch!
Other than the GTRs and 911s, the most impressive car out there was probably a TVR Cerbera. An Audi A8 pulled into the parking lot as I was leaving, I bet that would have been impressive to see going around the ring. If you bring a car like that, you better know what you're doing.
Other than the GTRs and 911s, the most impressive car out there was probably a TVR Cerbera. An Audi A8 pulled into the parking lot as I was leaving, I bet that would have been impressive to see going around the ring. If you bring a car like that, you better know what you're doing.
Last edited by MC350; 11-17-2010 at 09:09 PM.
